Recovery from addiction is an individualised process and necessitates understanding the phenomenon from the perspective of the individual living the experience. This qualitative study seeks to understand women’s lived experience of recovery. Data were collected through participant interviews of women self-identifying as in recovery and interpreted from a phenomenological lens. The overarching theme is vigilance - a way to maintain recovery from addiction through remembering, being careful, and seeking community.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Recovery from addiction is an individualised process and necessitates understanding the phenomenon from the perspective of the individual living the experience. This qualitative study seeks to understand women’s lived experience of recovery. Data were collected through participant interviews of women self-identifying as in recovery and interpreted from a phenomenological lens. The overarching theme is vigilance - a way to maintain recovery from addiction through remembering, being careful, and seeking community.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
addiction, recovery, women, user views, qualitative research;
Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 26(2), 2015, pp.137-148.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
... in a gender-specific treatment setting evolved from being in recovery to coaching recovery. The authors conducted in-depth qualitative interviews to examine PSS’s experiences and attitudes toward their work. Results reinforced prominent feminist psychological developmental theory, an important implication for practice.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This study looks at women’s roles as peer support specialists (PSSs). Understanding women’s paths toward their peer support work through their experiences is essential for the continued formalisation of peer support interventions designed for women working in gender-specific community-based treatment settings. The major aim of this study was to explore and describe how female PSSs working in a gender-specific treatment setting evolved from being in recovery to coaching recovery. The authors conducted in-depth qualitative interviews to examine PSS’s experiences and attitudes toward their work. Results reinforced prominent feminist psychological developmental theory, an important implication for practice.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Health Expectations, 24(1), 2021, pp.1-7. Online only
Publisher:
Wiley
... (a) support or network or solidarity, (b) violence and (c) recovery or healing. Data extraction and synthesis: Of the 273 documents retrieved, 52 were used using a narrative synthesis approach. Main results: For recovery, women must reconnect with themselves, with their environment and with the world in general. Doing so requires support from both formal and informal networks. The intervention of other people is a common element in successful recovery processes. We identify three requirements for the intervention of these support networks to be effective: not blaming the victim, making women part of their own recovery process by showing them their own transformation potential and promoting reflection on the socialization they have experienced in their affective‐sexual relationships. Conclusions: There are multiple benefits to having formal or informal support during recovery. In informal networks, raising awareness and providing training are insufficient for promoting active support. Instead, the Second Order of Sexual Harassment must specifically be combatted. Public contribution: From the authors' previous research, harassed women and survivors have underlined the necessity to identify indicators of recovery and which kind of support has an impact on it.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Context: A key to advancing the eradication of gender‐based violence (GBV) is knowing how to recover from it. Objective: To identify the changes that are indicators of having overcome GBV and determine the role of various support networks. Search strategy: We systematically searched Web of Science. Inclusion criteria: Publications whose abstracts contained a minimum of two of the following words: (a) support or network or solidarity, (b) violence and (c) recovery or healing. Data extraction and synthesis: Of the 273 documents retrieved, 52 were used using a narrative synthesis approach. Main results: For recovery, women must reconnect with themselves, with their environment and with the world in general. Doing so requires support from both formal and informal networks. The intervention of other people is a common element in successful recovery processes. We identify three requirements for the intervention of these support networks to be effective: not blaming the victim, making women part of their own recovery process by showing them their own transformation potential and promoting reflection on the socialization they have experienced in their affective‐sexual relationships. Conclusions: There are multiple benefits to having formal or informal support during recovery. In informal networks, raising awareness and providing training are insufficient for promoting active support. Instead, the Second Order of Sexual Harassment must specifically be combatted. Public contribution: From the authors' previous research, harassed women and survivors have underlined the necessity to identify indicators of recovery and which kind of support has an impact on it.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 4(1), 2020, pp.73-87.
Publisher:
Policy Press
Women’s domestic abuse support services have developed over the past decades with the inclusion of women surviving abuse as practitioners themselves (Mullender and Hague, 2001; Slattery and Goodman, 2009; Bemiller and Williams, 2011). Following a literature review of this area, women ‘survivor support workers’ or ‘peer support/mentors’ have rarely been given the opportunity to articulate what it is that they are gaining personally and the impact in undertaking this emotionally challenging work. This small-scale study considers the voice of women survivors working in the field of domestic abuse support work, affording them the opportunity to explore the benefits and the costs to them as survivors of domestic abuse when working in this practice area. Twelve women ‘survivor support workers’ from five distinct English organisations took part in this research. Qualitative interviews were then analysed thematically within a feminist paradigm. Findings indicate that there are both highly positive aspects for survivors of abuse working in the domestic abuse sector, and equally, that there are areas of risk where re-victimisation and vicarious trauma could occur.
(Publisher abstract)
Women’s domestic abuse support services have developed over the past decades with the inclusion of women surviving abuse as practitioners themselves (Mullender and Hague, 2001; Slattery and Goodman, 2009; Bemiller and Williams, 2011). Following a literature review of this area, women ‘survivor support workers’ or ‘peer support/mentors’ have rarely been given the opportunity to articulate what it is that they are gaining personally and the impact in undertaking this emotionally challenging work. This small-scale study considers the voice of women survivors working in the field of domestic abuse support work, affording them the opportunity to explore the benefits and the costs to them as survivors of domestic abuse when working in this practice area. Twelve women ‘survivor support workers’ from five distinct English organisations took part in this research. Qualitative interviews were then analysed thematically within a feminist paradigm. Findings indicate that there are both highly positive aspects for survivors of abuse working in the domestic abuse sector, and equally, that there are areas of risk where re-victimisation and vicarious trauma could occur.
(Publisher abstract)
Therapeutic Communities: the International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, 40(1), 2019, pp.42-50.
Publisher:
Emerald
... residents the opportunity to maintain treatment oriented social networks. Therapeutic communities (TCs), which emphasize mutual aid between residents, are ideal candidates for such programs. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach: In total, 100 randomly chosen former TC residents were randomly surveyed regarding their contact with fellow alumni and their exchange of recovery oriented helping behaviors. A thirty day timeline follow-back methodology was used. Findings: Contact was primarily through electronic means, particularly phone calls, texts and the alumni club Facebook page. Participants who reported more electronic contact also reported more days in which they offered and received recovery oriented help. Participants who were African American or had spent more time in TC treatment offered and received recovery oriented help on more days. Research limitations/implications: While this is an exploratory study limited to one TC, this alumni club allows for the maintenance of a mutual aid network after termination. That network primarily consists of electronic forms of contact. A longer time spent in TC treatment may allow for the internalization of the practice
(Edited publisher abstract)
Purpose: Aftercare is an important predictor of outcomes following treatment for substance abuse. Despite this, there is evidence that the great majority of substance abusing clients choose not to participate in aftercare. Aftercare programs that are tied to specific residential treatment facilities, sometimes known as alumni groups or alumni clubs, might increase participation by offering former residents the opportunity to maintain treatment oriented social networks. Therapeutic communities (TCs), which emphasize mutual aid between residents, are ideal candidates for such programs. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach: In total, 100 randomly chosen former TC residents were randomly surveyed regarding their contact with fellow alumni and their exchange of recovery oriented helping behaviors. A thirty day timeline follow-back methodology was used. Findings: Contact was primarily through electronic means, particularly phone calls, texts and the alumni club Facebook page. Participants who reported more electronic contact also reported more days in which they offered and received recovery oriented help. Participants who were African American or had spent more time in TC treatment offered and received recovery oriented help on more days. Research limitations/implications: While this is an exploratory study limited to one TC, this alumni club allows for the maintenance of a mutual aid network after termination. That network primarily consists of electronic forms of contact. A longer time spent in TC treatment may allow for the internalization of the practice of mutual aid. Further research on alumni clubs is warranted. Originality/value: This is the first survey of TC alumni club members.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Centre for Mental Health, Mental Health Foundation
Publication year:
2019
Pagination:
26
Place of publication:
London
A guide to the principles of gender-sensitive trauma-informed care and how services can put the approach into practice. The resource looks at the concept of trauma, including causes, impact and prevalence and explores the model of trauma-informed care. It discusses four aspects of trauma-informed care in detail - listening, understanding, responding and checking - considering what each of these looks like in practice. It also anticipates some of the challenges services might face on their journey to becoming trauma-informed. It includes a lists of organisations in the UK currently employing trauma-based approaches provides links to resources that may act as a useful starting point for services. The resource is draws on the findings of research and the results of workshop discussions. It was produced by Centre for Mental Health and the Mental Health Foundation in collaboration with the Association of Mental Health Providers, the National LGB&T Partnership and the Race Equality Foundation.
(Edited publisher abstract)
A guide to the principles of gender-sensitive trauma-informed care and how services can put the approach into practice. The resource looks at the concept of trauma, including causes, impact and prevalence and explores the model of trauma-informed care. It discusses four aspects of trauma-informed care in detail - listening, understanding, responding and checking - considering what each of these looks like in practice. It also anticipates some of the challenges services might face on their journey to becoming trauma-informed. It includes a lists of organisations in the UK currently employing trauma-based approaches provides links to resources that may act as a useful starting point for services. The resource is draws on the findings of research and the results of workshop discussions. It was produced by Centre for Mental Health and the Mental Health Foundation in collaboration with the Association of Mental Health Providers, the National LGB&T Partnership and the Race Equality Foundation.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
women, traumas, mental health care, gender, recovery, mental health problems, mental health services;
Community Mental Health Journal, 53(3), 2017, pp.340-343.
Publisher:
Springer
Women engaging in substance use who have been justice-involved are systemically isolated from the legal economy and are therefore underresourced. Utilising a conservation of resources framework of stress, this study examined housing as a resource in 200 women exiting the criminal justice system who reported having a history of substance use. A general linear model was run to examine the relationship between the setting where participants spent the most time and CORE Loss scores. Women who had spent the majority of their time in independent house settings had significantly higher CORE-L scores compared to those who spent the majority of their time in precarious settings. This study highlights the importance of understanding housing within the context of working with underresourced populations, and the continued support necessary as women transition out of institutions and into the community.
(Publisher abstract)
Women engaging in substance use who have been justice-involved are systemically isolated from the legal economy and are therefore underresourced. Utilising a conservation of resources framework of stress, this study examined housing as a resource in 200 women exiting the criminal justice system who reported having a history of substance use. A general linear model was run to examine the relationship between the setting where participants spent the most time and CORE Loss scores. Women who had spent the majority of their time in independent house settings had significantly higher CORE-L scores compared to those who spent the majority of their time in precarious settings. This study highlights the importance of understanding housing within the context of working with underresourced populations, and the continued support necessary as women transition out of institutions and into the community.
(Publisher abstract)
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a gendered reading of the 2010 UK drug strategy and draw out the implications of the new recovery paradigm for female drug users.
Design/methodology/approach: The paper explores the concept of recovery at a theoretical level, uncovering the taken-for-granted assumptions in the three overarching principles: freedom from dependence; well-being; and citizenship. It also analyses the available quantitative and qualitative evidence on women’s access to recovery capital to explore the role gender might play in the journey to recovery.
Findings: Strategic thinking around recovery in the UK is largely silent on gender. However, close scrutiny of the available, albeit limited, evidence base on female drug users and feminist scholarship on the principles of well-being and citizenship suggests the need to understand recovery against a backdrop of the social and normative context of women’s lives.
Originality/value: Recent analyses of contemporary UK drug policy have focused on the conflation of recovery with abstinence and the displacement of the harm reduction agenda. They have failed to draw out the implications for particular groups of drug users
(Publisher abstract)
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a gendered reading of the 2010 UK drug strategy and draw out the implications of the new recovery paradigm for female drug users.
Design/methodology/approach: The paper explores the concept of recovery at a theoretical level, uncovering the taken-for-granted assumptions in the three overarching principles: freedom from dependence; well-being; and citizenship. It also analyses the available quantitative and qualitative evidence on women’s access to recovery capital to explore the role gender might play in the journey to recovery.
Findings: Strategic thinking around recovery in the UK is largely silent on gender. However, close scrutiny of the available, albeit limited, evidence base on female drug users and feminist scholarship on the principles of well-being and citizenship suggests the need to understand recovery against a backdrop of the social and normative context of women’s lives.
Originality/value: Recent analyses of contemporary UK drug policy have focused on the conflation of recovery with abstinence and the displacement of the harm reduction agenda. They have failed to draw out the implications for particular groups of drug users such as women. The pursuit of recovery-based drug policy is not peculiar to the UK so the paper offers a case study of its gendered application in a particular national context.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
recovery, gender, drug misuse, wellbeing, citizenship, policy, women;
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 32(4), 2019, pp.932-941.
Publisher:
Wiley
Background: The move to community support for all people with intellectual disabilities is an aspiration with international significance. This article draws on rich accounts from women with intellectual disabilities detained under the Mental Health Act (E&W) 1983 and staff at an National Health Service secure setting in England to explore how “moving on” is defined and perceived. Methods: The study reports on an ethnographic study using the field‐notes and the 26 semi‐structured interviews with detained women and staff on three wards. Results: This study first explore staff conceptions of moving on, which include behavioural change and utilizing coping strategies. Then, this study discusses the areas of analysis that women discussed: taking back responsibility, success in arranged relationships, acceptance of regime and resistance to progression. Conclusion: The concepts of moving on were not determined by the women but by the service. This study recommends further research which explores women's own rehabilitation requirements.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Background: The move to community support for all people with intellectual disabilities is an aspiration with international significance. This article draws on rich accounts from women with intellectual disabilities detained under the Mental Health Act (E&W) 1983 and staff at an National Health Service secure setting in England to explore how “moving on” is defined and perceived. Methods: The study reports on an ethnographic study using the field‐notes and the 26 semi‐structured interviews with detained women and staff on three wards. Results: This study first explore staff conceptions of moving on, which include behavioural change and utilizing coping strategies. Then, this study discusses the areas of analysis that women discussed: taking back responsibility, success in arranged relationships, acceptance of regime and resistance to progression. Conclusion: The concepts of moving on were not determined by the women but by the service. This study recommends further research which explores women's own rehabilitation requirements.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 23(1), 2019, pp.58-60.
Publisher:
Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to share the experiences and reflections of one woman’s journey towards well-being. Design/methodology/approach: A narrative approach has been taken to structure reflections based on lived experience.
Findings: Reflections are offered based on a personal journey towards well-being. Originality/value: This paper adds to the accounts of the lived experience of the journey towards well-being, and as such, contributes to the understanding of the process of rebuilding a life.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to share the experiences and reflections of one woman’s journey towards well-being. Design/methodology/approach: A narrative approach has been taken to structure reflections based on lived experience.
Findings: Reflections are offered based on a personal journey towards well-being. Originality/value: This paper adds to the accounts of the lived experience of the journey towards well-being, and as such, contributes to the understanding of the process of rebuilding a life.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
wellbeing, attachment, traumas, user views, life story work, recovery, women, case studies;